Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In a splendid private room of Jianye International Hotel, a group of well-dressed men and women toasted rounds of red wine with each other.

“Hansheng, I look forward to doing business with you in the future.”

“Hansheng, just relax. I’ll drink to you.”

“Hansheng, I wish you a prosperous future.”

The main character at the table receiving toasts and compliments from those who wish to form a relationship with him was Chen Hansheng.

“I wonder who is lucky enough to marry Hansheng.” A woman blushed as she picked up a glass of red wine flirtatiously.

Chen Hansheng was thirty-five years old – at the peak of his youth and career. Despite his social status, he was carefree and approachable. Coupled with his ability to carry a good conversation, it is unsurprising that many women are attracted to him.

“Miss Zhang, don’t you know? President Chen is not married yet. He is still a bachelor.” Someone leaned in and informed the woman.

“President Chen must have high standards. He probably wouldn’t even consider people like us,” said the woman with a smile.

Then, she turned to Chen Hansheng and handed over a business card with both hands. With a sparkle in her eyes, she gently said, “President Chen, you have already reached the peak of your life. You must find a balance between family and career.”

Chen Hansheng took the business card politely and his fingers lightly breezed past hers. However, the moment the two touched, he suddenly felt a slight tingle on his palm. It turned out that this Miss Zhang had slid her index finger down his palm before pulling her hand away as she looked at him flirtatiously.

Chen Hansheng smiled casually but remained silently seated.

By the time the social gathering ended, most of the people at the table were drunk. Miss Zhang turned back to look at Chen Hansheng reluctantly as she was about to leave.

Chen Hansheng noticed and gestured that he would call her. Only then did she leave with a smile.

A subordinate of his walked over and said, “President Chen, I’ll drive you back.”

“No need.”

Chen Hansheng waved his hand. “I bought a new house in the opposite neighborhood. I can drive back myself. It’s only less than a hundred meters away.”

Chen Hansheng slowly walked back to his Land Rover and got in. He leaned his head against the leather seat and the fatigue he felt from the event earlier crept onto his face.

After every social gathering, he would always leave slightly depressed despite having drunk so much wine. He would even feel a sense of emptiness.

It was hard to relax when one’s at the center of attention.

Chen Hansheng let out a heavy sigh. If money indicated happiness, he should be one of the happiest people in the world. He should be grateful.

He started the engine and fastened his seatbelt. Just as he was about to drive off, Chen Hansheng suddenly felt a hard object in his pocket. It turned out to be the business card of the beautiful Miss Zhang from earlier.

“Zhang Mingrong, not a bad name.”

Chen Hansheng smiled and then flicked it away lightly. Such social events were always full of drama. Whoever took it seriously was a fool.

The business card flew out into the night sky and landed on the ground. The Land Rover drove off to the music of ‘Five Hundred Miles’.

[If you miss the train I’m on,

You will know that I am gone,

You can hear the whistle blow,

A hundred miles…]

The song’s lyrics did not exactly reflect Chen Hansheng’s life, but it completely matched his mood at the moment – nostalgia.

It was undeniable that whoever had left home to find fortune, regardless of whether they made it or not, would never forget the very feeling of leaving home for the very first time.

“I haven’t seen my parents in a while. Maybe I’ll stop by and spend the night.”

Still slightly drunk from the party, Chen Hansheng suddenly turned his wheel and a bright white light shone through his window. Chen Hansheng could not react in time as he passed out to the sound of a loud boom.

…

“Hansheng, wake up quickly. The bus is about to arrive.”

Chen Hansheng woke up in a daze to the sound of a voice as bright sunshine shone into his eyes. His head still hurt from the hangover.

“Damn it, don’t drink so much next time.”

Chen Hansheng frowned and cursed at himself.

“Well, we did have a high school class reunion last night and everyone had a lot to drink. Besides, it’s okay for you to get drunk when your love didn’t work out.”

The one who spoke was a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old. He was slightly plump and had dark skin. He grinned again. “Didn’t I already tell you not to confess to Xiao Rongyu? Why did you have to insist on doing it anyway? Look where that got you.

“There are so many men that are going after her. You don’t even stand a chance.”

The boy seemed to be gloating over Chen Hansheng’s misfortune. When the latter stared at him unhappily, he asked, “What? Are you getting mad at me for talking bad about Xiao Rongyu?

“We grew up together but you’ve only been high school classmates with her for three years. I suggest that you treat what happened last night as memory and let it drift away with the wind.”

Chen Hansheng knew that there would be no end to his nagging, so he interrupted the boy. “Who are you?”

“Me?!”

The boy was surprised, then quickly became angry. When the cab arrived at the station, he pulled the limping Chen Hansheng out of the car and loudly said, “Does being lovelorn give you amnesia? I’m your good friend, Wang Zibo. Do you remember your name? You’re Chen Hansheng.”

“Wang Zibo?”

Chen Hansheng did have a good friend named Wang Zibo, but he was not in the country at the moment.

“Isn’t Wang Zibo in Iraq?”

“F*cking Chen Hansheng, are you cursing me to die early?”

But Chen Hansheng had fallen silent as he stared at a reflection in the car window. Why was a young teenager with a slight mustache and beard staring back at him? The person in the reflection looked slightly familiar too.

He quickly looked around him. The sky was blue and cloudless. Dust flew just slightly above the road under the sunlight. The loudspeakers of a barbershop nearby were playing some loud music of a different era.

“Fine, I’ll accompany you to watch the meteor shower and let your tears fall on my shoulder.”

Something clicked in his head and Chen Hansheng suddenly felt a little dizzy. He had experienced this scene before. His stomach started to churn and Chen Hansheng ran to the side of the road to vomit.

Wang Zibo did not mind. He walked over and patted his back to comfort him. “It’ll be fine once you’re done vomiting.”

Chen Hansheng gradually became clear-headed. His memories of Wang Zibo finally came back to him.

“Where are we going now?” Chen Hansheng raised his head with difficulty.

“To get our university admission letters from school.”

Wang Zibo was no longer surprised by Chen Hangsheng’s antiques. They had known each other for a long time and told each other everything.

Chen Hansheng finally remembered this scene. It was true. If his memories served him well, they were on their way to collect their university admission letter from the school. He was in the second batch of admissions while Wang Zibo was in the first batch of admissions.

This was not 2019. This was 2002.

…